relationship
do you know jesus?
i mean do you really know him?
do you have an intimate relationship with him?
do you know his CHARACTER? his ATTRIBUTES? his heart?
are you a follower or a fan?
jesus has many, many fans. Many who have heard about him. Think his example is upright and good but keep him at arms length.
he has few followers. Those that desire to draw close to him. DEVELOPING a close, personal relationship by being open and honest with him. the communication works both ways as you listen to what he has to say as well and then obey it.
as you draw coser and closer to him in prayer, spending time in his word, you realize that he loves you INTIMATELY in the most dramatic way possible; he gave his life for you.
this is why he came over 2000 years ago. he came as a gentle savior, offering to give his life for ours.
for god did not send his son into the world to condem the world, but to save the world through him. john 3:17
as your RELATIONSHIP becomes closer and closer, you become close friends. greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. you are my friend if you do what i command. I no longer call you servants, instead i call you friend. john 15:13-15
UNFORTUNATELY there are many, many people who are trying to earn the affections and favors of jesus. they work tirelessly to be "good enough" to impress him with all of their service and sacrifices. they desire that he blesses them as a reward and grant them a place in heaven.
god however does not operate that way. he does not grade on a curve. FOR IT IS BY GRACE THAT WE HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH AND THIS IS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD. EPHESIANS 2:8
jesus told us that he is coming again. the next time, though, it will be a far different jesus than the first time.
the next time when jesus is revealed from heaven it will be in blazing fire with all of his powerful angels. he will punish those who do not know god and those who do not obey the gospel of our lord jesus christ. they will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. 2 thessalonians 1:7-10.
there are true followers and false followers. not everyone who says to me "lord, lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven but only the ones that do the will of my father who is in heaven. many will say to me on that day, "lord, lord did we not prophesy in you name and in your name drive out mant demons and in your name perform many MIRACLES?" then i will tell them plainly, "i never knew you. away from me evil dooers" matthew 7:21-23
what a TERRIFYING truth!
when WE ARE STANDING BEFORE JESUS THESE ARE DEFINITELY NOT THE WORDS THAT WE WANT TO HEAR.
these are the ones that did not take jesus seriously or thought that all of their good works and deeds would impress jesus enough and that he would allow them to enter heaven. all the while they did not have what he requires of us; to have a relationship with him. to know him. to love him. to obey him.
rather these are the words we want to hear; "well done my good and faithful one. you have been faithful with a few things; i will put you in charge of many things. enter in and share with my happiness!" Matthew 25:21
i encourage you to submit yourselves to him. draw near to him and he will draw near to you. james 4:7-8.
withdraw from your busy ambitions to impress him.
spend time with him.
read his word.
communicate with him through prayer.
pray continually. 1 thessalonians 5:17
learn to be still in a place that is secluded and quiet.
and know that he is god. psalm 46:10
